THUNDER BAY – It’s official, the District of Thunder Bay is returning to Grey-Lockdown.
The province made the decision to tighten restrictions in the region following a week when the total case count grew to 349, 277 of which came in the past seven days, which equates to 202 cases per 100,000 people, more than five times the threshold to move into Red from Orange.
Sixty new cases were announced on Friday and a day earlier all schools in the city were pivoted into online learning only.
Thunder Bay Mayor Bill Mauro said the province was left with little choice but to apply the emergency brake.
"It's a concerning trend," Mauro said. "The numbers continue to climb. The total cases that are active continue to grow. So we're in a very difficult time and we need to do everything that we can to manage this as best we're able."
Health Minister Christine Elliott said the move was a necessary one.
"While we continue to see the number of cases and other public health indicators lowering in many regions across the province, the recent modelling shows us that we must be nimble and put in place additional measures to protect Ontarians and stop the spread of COVID-19," Elliott said.
The mayor said the city's issues may have started in Thunder Bay's vulnerable populations and also in part because of an outbreak at the district jail, but he's also concerned that many in the community simply aren't following the rules.
That has to change. But the numbers don't lie, he said.
"We've had more cases in February than we've had in all of 2020. We don't know if the trend will stabilize or if it will begin to plateau and then we'll begin to see a reduction. I don't see that you had a choice from the government's perspective."
Thunder Bay District Health Unit medical officer of health Dr. Janet DeMille echoed the mayor's comments.
"With a continued increase in cases and hospitalization rates, we are currently in an exceptionally challenging situation,” DeMille said in a release.
“I recognize this feels like a step backward and many of us are feeling the COVID-fatigue but these enhanced measures are needed to get COVID in our community under control.”
Mauro expressed empathy for the Thunder Bay business community.
Under lock-down, gatherings outside one's household are not permitted. Take-out and drive-through dining is allowed and gyms must close. However, retail outlets are permitted to remain open, with supermarkets down to 50 per cent capacity and all other retailers, including big box stores, down to 25 per cent capacity. Screening must be in place for all patrons.
"You hope that at the end of the day, whether it's one week or two weeks that we stay in this situation, that we actually do see a positive result in terms of the numbers that will be achieved by going back into lockdown."
The provincial release did not indicate how long the lockdown status will last.
Charla Robinson, president of the Thunder Bay Chamber of commerce, called the news devastating to the city's business community. They're left with more questions than answers, she added.
"Unfortunately, like so many others who have been impacted by COVID-19, the small business owners I've spoken with have been discouraged by a cycle of promised help that doesn't come. Many of our small businesses are still waiting for the financial support that was promised by the premier in December. Our calls for stronger testing and tracing systems to control virus spread have largely gone unanswered," Robinson said.
"Clear and consistent restrictions and health protocols remain elusive as businesses are being shut down or forced to significantly change their service model based solely on the products and services they offer. The current system favours large department stores and online retailers over locally operated small businesses."
The new restrictions come into effect on Monday morning at 12:01 a.m. Simcoe-Muskoka District will also be moving to Grey at that time.
